Most new ovens and cooktops are hard wired rather than plugged in, and a full size induction cooktop can draw more current than the circuit it replaces was ever designed to carry. Checking that before the appliance is delivered avoids a frustrating install day with a cooktop sitting in its box.
We connect wall ovens, cooktops and freestanding ranges, run new kitchen circuits, and check that your switchboard has the capacity and protection for the load. If you are moving from a gas hob to induction, we handle the electrical side and work alongside your gasfitter.
Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.
Check the circuit before you buy
Every oven and cooktop lists its rated load on the data plate and in the installation manual. Compare that with the circuit you already have. An older kitchen may have one circuit shared by the oven and an old ceramic hob, sized for far less than a modern induction cooktop with a boost setting.
Send us the model numbers of the new appliances and a photo of your switchboard, and we will tell you whether the existing circuit can be reused or a new one is needed. That single check usually sets the price of the job.
- Wall oven installation and replacement
- Induction and ceramic cooktop connection
- Freestanding range connection
- New dedicated kitchen circuits
- Isolating switches near the cooktop
- Switchboard capacity checks
What an induction cooktop needs
Consumer NZ's account of switching its own kitchen from gas to induction is a useful real example. The cooktop drew 32 amps, so it could not run on the house's 20 amp circuits. The electrician ran a dedicated 6 mm cable to a 32 amp breaker and fitted a separate isolation switch within reach of the hob.
Some lower powered induction models stay under 20 amps, but Consumer NZ notes they cannot run every zone at full power together. If your board has no room for a new breaker, or the supply is already heavily loaded, a switchboard upgrade may need to come first.
How It Works
Gas to electric in the Wellington region
Powerco owns the natural gas network in Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Porirua. Its listed network areas do not include the Kāpiti Coast, where gas cooking generally means LPG bottles. Either way, swapping a gas hob for induction is two jobs: a licensed gasfitter disconnects and caps the gas, and an electrician installs the circuit and connects the cooktop.
We line both up so the kitchen is out of action for as short a time as possible. For scale, Consumer NZ reported a total of $1,173 including GST for its 1920s house, covering the new circuit and the gas disconnection, with about 5 to 6 hours on site. That is one household's bill, not our price, and long cable runs in older homes can cost more.
Wall ovens and freestanding ranges
A like-for-like wall oven swap is often simple. We disconnect the old oven, check the cable and connection unit, and connect the new one to the existing supply if it is suitable. If the new oven draws more, or moves to a new tower or position, a new cable or circuit is needed.
Freestanding ranges combine oven and cooktop and usually connect through one wall connection. We check that connection, the cable size and the breaker against the range's rating before it is pushed into place.
Kitchen renovations
In a kitchen renovation the oven and cooktop are only part of the picture. Benches need enough sockets, rangehoods need power and ducting, and islands need outlets and often lighting. Planning everything together means one set of cable runs while the walls are open. In many older Wellington houses the subfloor gives a practical route for new kitchen circuits without opening floors.
We work from your kitchen designer's plan, confirm appliance specifications, and fit around your builder for pre-wire and fit-off. Our pages on power points and extractor fans cover those parts of the kitchen, and we work across the region, including the northern suburbs and Porirua.
Certificates and what it costs
A new circuit or new fixed wiring for an oven or cooktop comes with a Certificate of Compliance. Homeowners are allowed to connect and disconnect fixed wired appliances in their own home under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations, but confirming the circuit rating is the part that matters, and that needs a licensed electrician.
The price depends on whether the existing circuit can stay, the distance from the board to the kitchen, access in the subfloor or ceiling, and any switchboard work. Send the model numbers and a photo of your board and we will give you a fixed price.
Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for Oven and Cooktop Installation
Circuit checked in advance
Appliance ratings are matched to your circuit and board before delivery, so install day goes to plan.
Gas to induction, coordinated
We line up the electrical work with your gasfitter so the kitchen is down for as little time as possible.
Fixed price from model numbers
Send the model numbers and a switchboard photo for a firm written price.
Renovation friendly
We work to your kitchen plan and fit around your builder's programme.
Oven and Cooktop Installation FAQs
Can I plug in an induction cooktop?
Most full size induction cooktops are hard wired. Consumer NZ's example needed a dedicated 32 amp circuit with 6 mm cable and an isolation switch near the hob.
Will my old oven circuit run a new induction cooktop?
Sometimes. It depends on the cooktop's rating and the existing cable and breaker. Send us the model number and we will check.
Who removes my gas hob?
A licensed gasfitter disconnects and caps the gas. In Wellington, the Hutt and Porirua the hob may be on Powerco's natural gas network or on LPG; Powerco's network areas do not include Kāpiti, where LPG is the norm. We coordinate with the gasfitter.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade for induction?
Only if the board has no room for a new breaker, lacks suitable protection, or the supply is already heavily loaded. We check before quoting.
How long does an installation take?
A like-for-like swap is often quick. A new circuit takes longer. Consumer NZ's induction install took about 5 to 6 hours.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes, for any new circuit or fixed wiring. You receive a Certificate of Compliance to keep with your house papers.
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